Medicinal Plant Research 2024, Vol.14, No.6, 345-357 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/mpr 353 competitiveness, open new sales channels, and provide economic incentives for growers to adopt resistant varieties and sustainable practices. 6.3 Strategy for integrating resistance breeding in sustainable systems A holistic strategy that links resistance breeding, sustainable cultivation, and targeted marketing is essential for the success of green Hangbaiju production. Breeding programs should prioritize resistance traits compatible with organic and low-input systems, while extension services and technical support can guide farmers in adopting best practices and accessing high-value markets (Nelson et al., 2017; Ikram et al., 2024). This integrated pipeline ensures that resistant varieties are not only developed but also effectively utilized and marketed. Government and industry support, including technical training, subsidies for sustainable inputs (e.g., biochar, AMF), and streamlined certification processes, are crucial for scaling up green Hangbaiju cultivation. Policy frameworks that encourage the adoption of resistant varieties and sustainable practices can help farmers transition to green systems while maintaining profitability and environmental stewardship (Wigboldus et al., 2016; Nelson et al., 2017; Ikram et al., 2024). 7 Challenges and Future Directions 7.1 Limitations in current screening and breeding efforts One of the main challenges in breeding Hangbaiju for disease and insect resistance is that the genetic basis of cultivated varieties is narrow, which limits the scope of available resistance genes. Currently, most commercial varieties are derived from limited parental lines, resulting in genetic bottlenecks and lack of diversity in resistance traits (Su et al., 2019; Mekapogu et al., 2022). Efficient molecular markers for key resistance genes are still lacking, especially in complex polyploid crops such as chrysanthemum (Sumitomo et al., 2021; 2022). Although genomics and marker-assisted selection (MAS) have made some progress in recent years and identified some resistance loci, high-throughput and stable marker systems for multiple diseases and pests have not yet been perfected (Su et al., 2019; Sumitomo et al., 2021). Now, breeding efforts focus on single pest and disease resistance, which may result in selected varieties showing poor resistance to other biotic stresses (Kos et al., 2014; Shinoyama et al., 2015; Li et al., 2020). It is technically difficult to integrate resistance traits to multiple pests and diseases, such as aphids, white rust, and alternaria, into one variety. This is mainly due to the complex inheritance patterns of resistance traits, potential negative linkage drag, and the lack of efficient trait aggregation strategies (Shinoyama et al., 2015; Mundt, 2018). The persistence of resistance is also threatened because pathogens and pest populations evolve rapidly and may break through the defenses of single-gene resistance (Mundt, 2018). 7.2 Gaps in cultivar adoption and dissemination Although several resistant varieties of Hangbaiju have been introduced, the adoption rate among farmers in actual production is still low. The main obstacles include: insufficient awareness of the advantages of resistant varieties, lack of technical knowledge in integrated pest management (IPM), and concerns about the "compromise effect" of yield or quality (Sidhya et al., 2024). Due to the imperfect extension services and knowledge transfer mechanisms, there is a clear hesitation in the adoption of new varieties, especially among small farmers and traditional growers. A stable seed supply system and an effective variety rights protection mechanism are key to the widespread use of resistant varieties. However, as an ornamental crop, Hangbaiju faces special challenges, such as widespread informal breeding, weak intellectual property protection, and difficulty in obtaining certified seedlings (Mekapogu et al., 2022). 7.3 Future prospects in integrated resistance breeding The integrated application of multi-omics technologies, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, has brought new opportunities for analyzing complex resistance mechanisms and accelerating candidate gene screening (Mekapogu et al., 2022; Ding et al., 2023). In recent years, gene editing technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9 have been established in Hangbaiju, which is expected to achieve precise modification of resistance genes and break through the limitations of traditional breeding (Chen et al., 2024).
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